OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
FEATURE SPONSOR
O&M TECHNOLOGY SUCC
Should customer O&M software be free? Can no-cost technology provide advanced O&M solutions? And is this a future industry trend?
At Green Marine Solutions (GMS) the answers are yes, yes and yes. As a specialist service provider, the company gives operators high-performance zero- cost software for good commercial reasons.
In practice, GMS offers clients extremely robust, tested service platforms that only carry functions vital for ultra-reliable O&M, explains Operations Director, Richard Pargeter.
LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Cost-free technology is then a of precisely- tailored O&M solutions, adds GMS Technical Director, Mark Swift. He feels that avoiding unnecessary frills helps to free operators from cumbersome IT legacies.
This puts excellent functionality and maximum simplicity into the hands of highly-trained technicians. GMS doesn’t try to compensate for poor training with over- complicated technology.
ANALOGY
A good analogy of why O&M technology should be straightforward and goal- orientated is found in popular technology itself, Richard points out.
“We quite deliberately don’t set out to provide the equivalent of a mobile phone overloaded with unneeded apps. Instead, we give highly-skilled operators the equivalent of a very good basic smart phone loaded with purpose-built solutions for very specific O&M tasks – with no distractions. We know how annoying complex IT systems can be, even when they are meant to help.”
The strategy is part of GMS’ drive for excellence through simplicity in challenging environments where the asset matrix is already complicated and failures and breakdowns are costly.
SOLUTIONS - A CLIENT’S FIRST PRIORITY
“We’ve looked closely at what operators and utilities want us to achieve. It means that we are now putting the horse very firmly before the cart,” Richard adds.
“Our focus is delivering solutions, not software. Technology has a job to do. Hence, we don’t sell complex software systems but do ensure excellent O&M results.
“Because the technology component of our solutions is streamlined to the job in hand, software costs are marginal. It becomes a virtuous circle. Software costs are no longer an issue for us.
“If you pay a builder to build your house, you don’t expect to pay for his JCB or forklift. So why pay for our tools/ software system?”
INTEGRATION
“GMS integrates the three key functions on to its software service platforms that are vital to good O&M – asset management, marine co-ordination and marine assurance. If these are delivered to high performance standards every time, the software has done its job successfully,” Richard continues.
“The result is lower costs, faster response times and easier procurement for clients. It also means that lessons learned project-by-project can be incorporated continuously into software development. Frustrations and temper levels benefit too!”
“IT malfunctions are few and far between.
“We avoid the temptation to over- engineer software for its own sake. Our approach is to sell clarity, rather than bells and whistles,” he adds. “The main aim is to get the basic job done well without fail, but with an overwhelming emphasis on health and safety.”
HEALTH & SAFETY ALWAYS COME FIRST
What is the basic job in hand? It falls into three main parts, Richard explains.
1 The first is to provide certification management for people, vessels, equipment and assets that is always bang up-to-date – including an effective permit to work system
2 The second is ensuring ultra-reliable planned maintenance where nothing is overlooked, even in stormy weather or vicious winter conditions
3 The third is an accurate track and trace system for high-cost vessels, skilled employees and valuable equipment
Technology that combines these three priorities successfully is now a pre-requisite for effective marine assurance – the ultimate O&M backstop and essentially a company’s quality and risk control system.
86
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100